Friday, 13 April 2012

Same book, different Author

Have you guys ever read a book and thought about how closely it reminded you of another book? Wondered if maybe the authors had read each others work and that had played a factor into the writing? Have you maybe written something, only to find other stories out there that are similar?
Why am i asking this you might say... Well I almost had a mini melt down, after finding a book which seemed very similar to my own. It was only after doing research I found out it was different enough story line that i was able to breathe again....but it got me thinking...how many books out there are like this?

I mean our character's names were Lil (hers) and Lilli (mine)
Her character was orphaned as was mine, hers living with her Grandfather, mine with her grandmother. Both stories had Angels and Demons in it.
And, both characters were being tempted by the dark side.

Thank goodness that is where the similarities ended or otherwise I would be in a world of hurt right now. I know that i have never read anything by this Author and I can only assume the same as only a few rough drafts of my story plus a few snippets have been put out for people to view. Yet, I can't deny that my heart stopped for a second and my stomach twisted into knots as I first began to check out this other story.

I am Glad that I did though, it saved me from worrying. Sure things are similar but there are so many different things as well. I feel better knowing that no one has stolen work or ripped off a story idea. It is a scary thought though...thinking that someone has taken your baby from you. I am lucky I have kept every rough draft, every change since I began writing. Now, when I think about, I have noticed that there are a few books that seem very similar to others. Maybe the only difference for some is a person's writing style or dialogue etc.

I feel blessed to know that I have a unique writing style or so i have been told. People tell me that they enjoy the simplicity of my writing (whatever that means lol). I know i don't fancy things up, I am not one for long boring descriptive bits and little action, or one for using complicated words in which a normal person needs a Thesaurus to understand what the writer was trying to get across. Sure some people might hate that about me...that is ok, because I know that it's the key to what makes me and my stories unique.

What this little lesson has taught me is, firstly I need to not freak out when I come across story lines like my own, Secondly I need to be careful as to what I share with the world (and that makes me sad).

4 comments:

I guess a lot of stories out there are similar and unless you can come up with completely new paranormal creatures you are never going to be totally unique writing paranormal stories. I have been told that my books are too similar to Twilight. Well they do have vampires in them - but mine are definitely not vegetarian and cannot go out in the sunlight. You can't help but have similarities if you are going to have vampires - or angels and demons for that matter :)

This has happened to me a few times. Haha...and it always causes me to have a mini-meltdown. My current WIP was started in August and I'm about halfway through now (obviously I've been working on it some time, I tend to write slowly at times, I guess) and it was before I knew anything about "The Immortal Rules" by Julie Kagawa. When I read the synopsis later, I freaked because it's similar. A dystopian/horror where vampires rule humans with a strong female fighting heroine. Fortunately, after reading, I saw that was where the similarities ended, but it would still probably find a lot of comparisons later among readers if they only read a blurb and didn't bother giving it a chance. :/

But it happens. The writing process, and publishing process, is a lot longer than readers think. Coincidences and similarities happen. In the end, I think it's up to the authors on how to make their work stand out on its own. :)

Hi, Rebecca. I can definitely see how that might stop a person's heart for a moment or two! I'm glad to hear there were more differences than similarities.I suppose there is a possibility that someone could steal our ideas should we say too much before we're through the process of publication; however, I suppose the bigger lesson is to be as well-read within our genres as we possibly can. That way we can see where the trails are being blazed so we can make our own. I'm glad things worked out.Have a great weekend.